No. 3 Pitt volleyball returned from the West Coast with a split record after an eventful weekend in California. On Friday night, the Panthers fell in a heartbreaking five-set battle to No. 5 Stanford (14-1 ACC, 23-3) before bouncing back with a 3-1 victory over Cal (4-12 ACC, 7-19) on Sunday.
Pitfalls in Palo Alto
Friday night’s match against Stanford had all the makings of a statement victory for the Panthers. Both teams entered the contest with identical 13-1 conference records, with first place in the ACC on the line. After dropping the first two sets 24-26 and 22-25, Pitt stormed back with dominant performances in sets three and four, winning 25-18 and 25-17, respectively.
The Panthers’ hitting efficiency told the story of their near comeback. After managing just a 0.286 hitting percentage and struggling to find their footing in the opening sets against Stanford’s defense, the Panthers came back and hit an impressive 0.615 in the third set. The fourth set was imposing defensively, with Pitt holding Stanford to a low 0.029 hitting.
Despite Pitt’s heroic effort to earn a reverse sweep, timely kills from junior and redshirt sophomore opposite hitters Jordyn Harvey and Julia Blyashov closed out the match.
Bouncing back against Berkeley
It was evident in the opening set against Cal on Sunday that the Panthers were still shaken up by their loss to Stanford. After dropping the first set 22-25 to the unranked Golden Bears, Pitt regrouped and took the next three sets, closing out 25-13, 25-21 and 25-12.
Coming off such a gut-wrenching defeat where they were a mere three points away from taking down the conference co-leader, many teams would have struggled with the emotional hangover. Instead, Pitt once again reminded everyone why they’re still in the conversation for a fifth consecutive Final Four appearance.
Give them their flowers
Although Friday’s match didn’t end the way the Panthers hoped, Pitt’s middle blockers put on a show in Palo Alto. Redshirt senior Bre Kelley posted a season-high 10 kills to accompany a ridiculous 0.833 hitting percentage on top of seven blocks. Kelley matched her career high in kills and was arguably Pitt’s most efficient offensive weapon throughout the five sets.
First-year middle blocker Abbey Emch also continued her impressive performance throughout this season and earned a career-high six blocks and four kills against Stanford. The emergence of Emch as a reliable rotation piece gives head coach Dan Fisher more depth on Pitt’s bench.
Unsurprisingly, junior right side hitter Olivia Babcock also had an impressive night in her home state. The California native led all the match with 28 kills, 10 digs and seven blocks for her ninth double-double of the season. It’s Babcock’s ability to produce at an elite level even when Pitt’s system isn’t clicking perfectly that separates good players from great ones. Now averaging 2.16 digs per set this season, Babcock has continued to evolve as an all-around player rather than solely an offensive force.
On Sunday, however, Cal did a particularly good job of containing the reigning AVCA National Player of the Year, holding her to only 12 kills and a 0.200 hitting percentage. Pitt’s offensive game on the left side of the court aided in its decisive victory over the Golden Bears.
Junior outside hitter Blaire Bayless continued her domination on the left side, notching 15 kills on 32 swings, as well as nine digs and four blocks. But the true standout on the left side was redshirt sophomore outside hitter, Sophia Gregoire. Gregoire earned 20 kills on 29 swings, committing zero errors. Not only is a near-700 hitting percentage incredible, but her offensive performance was near-perfect.
Ending on a high note
At 22-4 overall and 13-2 in the ACC, Pitt remains in an excellent position despite the Stanford loss. The Panthers now sit tied for second place in the conference standings alongside No. 7 Louisville (14-2 ACC, 22-4) behind Stanford, with their sights set on another ACC title and a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The disappointment of coming within three points of beating Stanford will sting, but championship teams use losses as learning opportunities and fuel for future games. This team has been to four straight Final Fours — they know how to handle adversity. The bounce-back win over Cal proved that this group has the mental fortitude to overcome setbacks.
With upcoming home matches against Syracuse, Boston College and rival Louisville, Pitt has the chance to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. If this California trip taught us anything, it’s that Pitt is still very much in the game for that elusive national championship. The talent and experience are both there. Now it’s about putting together a complete performance when it matters most.